International Analysis

How Europe is Leading the Shift to More Sustainable Food and Farming

LINKEDIN 09/17/24 MEDIUM 09/17/24 By Dr. Michael Shank The shift to a more sustainable food system got a significant boost in Europe recently. In a first for the European Union, a French start-up filed the industry’s first application in July for market access for lab-grown foie gras. And the UK became […]

Building Decarbonization: A People and Pocketbook Issue

LINKEDIN 08/16/24 APOLITICAL 08/21/24 By Michael Shank As governments across Europe finally start tackling the outsized carbon footprint associated with the built environment, responsible for roughly 40 percent of all global greenhouse gas emissions, there’s something often overlooked that could aid or obstruct this decarbonization effort. It’s public perception. Currently, […]

How Governments Can Shift Power to Youth When Leading on Climate Policy

APOLITICAL 08/19/24 By Michael Shank The problem: When governments engage youth in climate and environmental programming, it’s often at the peripheries of key decision-making processes. Youth are not given real power in the process. Why it matters: Youth are not only inheriting this warming world, but they’ve got new and […]

Going Green in Cities: 3 Leadership Lessons From London

APOLITICAL 07/07/24 By Michael Shank This article is written by Dr Michael Shank, Director of Engagement at the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance. The problem: There’s concern that a global backlash against climate policies is in full swing and that running on climate isn’t good for political campaigns. Why it matters: […]

How Cities Can Shift Power to the Youth

CITYCHANGERS 07/04/24 By Michael Shank This article was written for CityChangers.org by Dr. Michael Shank, adjunct faculty at New York University and George Mason University. In it, he argues that cities stuck in the business-as-usual rut can hand the reins to a politically- and eco-minded youth – a generation thirsty […]

Let’s Get to Grips With the Housing Crisis — The Young Demand It

POLITICO 06/13/24 By Michael Shank Incumbent leaders have largely failed to tackle key socioeconomic issues like the rising cost of housing. All across Europe and the U.S., new right parties are rising to power, threatening progress on many social and environmental issues, including critical climate action. The recent EU parliamentary […]

Six Steps to Decarbonising Buildings

CITYCHANGERS 06/11/24 By Michael Shank and Irene Garcia This article was written for CityChangers.org by Irene Garcia, Built Environment Lead, and Michael Shank, Director of Engagement, both with the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance. In it, they outline a six-step plan – illustrated by examples of how these steps have been implemented […]